The value of eco-volunteer projects for biodiversity conservation - butterfly monitoring in Krka National Park (Croatia) with an updated checklist
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22120/jwb.2020.135022.1175Keywords:
Citizen Science, Entomology, Inventory, Lepidoptera, Protected areasAbstract
The biogeographical importance of Dalmatia, bordered by the Dinaric Alps and the Adriatic Sea, is evident through the rich biodiversity of this region and its network of protected areas. One of those areas, Krka National Park (NP), supports a wide range of natural habitats, but rapidly increasing tourism puts high pressure on its ecosystems, despite its protected status. Accurate knowledge of species and their distributions within natural places such as Krka is essential to direct and prioritize future conservation efforts. As collecting biodiversity data is time and resource-intensive, alternative ways to obtain this information are needed. One possibility is monitoring based on eco-volunteering. From June to August of 2019, an Operation Wallacea/BIOTA scientific team surveyed a section of Krka NP and its surrounding boundaries, within the vicinity of the village of Puljane, to study its butterfly richness and abundance. Pollard walks and static count surveys were conducted with the help of eco-volunteers, testing the effectiveness of gathering field data through this approach. Overall, 57 butterfly species were found throughout the study, including four new records for Krka NP. Three further new species for the park were detected close to its boundaries and are also expected to occur within its borders. Here, we present an updated butterfly checklist for Krka NP, highlighting the positive impact of eco-volunteering initiatives and the importance of combined research efforts to study and protect the rich biodiversity and ecosystems of protected areas.
References
Albolino O. 2014. The tourism in Croatia: Politics, Projects and Environmental sustainability. Bollettino Della Societa Geografica Italiana 8(7): 413–433.
Beran L. 2016. A contribution to knowledge of freshwater molluscs (mollusca) of the Krka river in the Krka national park (Croatia). Natura Croatica 25: 295–304.
Ćaleta M., Buj I., Mrakovčić M., Mustafić P., Zanella D., Marčić Z., Duplić A., Mihinjač T., Katavić I. 2015. Endemic Fishes of Croatia. Zagreb: Croatian Environment Agency. pp 121.
Dennis E.B., Morgan B.J.T., Brereton T.M., Roy D.B., Fox R. 2017. Using citizen science butterfly counts to predict species population trends. Conservation Biology 31(6): 1350–1361.
Dickinson J.L., Shirk J., Bonter D., Bonney R., Crain R.L., Martin J., Phillips T., Purcell K. 2012. The current state of citizen science as a tool for ecological research and public engagement. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 10: 291–297.
IUCN. 2020. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2020-1. Accessed 01/06/2020 from https://www.iucnredlist.org/
Ivković M., Plant A. 2015. Aquatic insects in the Dinarides: identifying hotspots of endemism and species richness shaped by geological and hydrological history using Empididae ( Diptera ). Insect Conservation and Diversity 8(4): 302–312.
Ivković M., Pont A.C. 2016. Long-time emergence patterns of Limnophora species (Diptera, Muscidae) in specific karst habitats: tufa barriers. Limnologica 61: 29–35.
Jelaska S.D., Nikolić T., Jelaska L.S., Kušan V., Peternel H., Gužvica G., Major Z. 2010. Terrestrial biodiversity analyses in Dalmatia (Croatia): a complementary approach using diversity and rarity. Environmental Management 45: 616–625.
Jutzeler D., Lafranchis T., Verovnik R., Volpe G. 2009. Confirmation du rang spécifique d’Hipparchia syriaca Staudinger (1871) par élevage et examen en Grèce du principe d’exclusion d’H. fagi et syriaca que Lorković (1976) avait découvert en Dalmatie (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae, Satyrinae). Entomologica Romanica 14: 5–12.
Koren T., Ladavac L. 2010. Butterfly fauna (Lepidoptera: Hesperioidea & Papilionoidea) of Central Istria (Croatia). Natura Croatica: Periodicum Musei Historiae Naturalis Croatici 19 (2): 369–380.
Koren T., Bjelic M., Bozinovska E., Štih A., Buric I. 2011. Contribution to the knowledge of butterfly fauna (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) of Zrmanja river region, Croatia. Acta Entomologica Slovenica 19: 155–168.
Koren T., Zadravec M., Štih A., Hlavati D. 2013 Butterfly fauna (Hesperoidea & Papilionoidea) of a rural part of Zagreb City, Croatia. Natura Croatica: Periodicum Musei Historiae Naturalis Croatici 22 (2): 253–264.
Koren T., Črne M., Withrington D.K.J. 2015a. Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea, Hesperioidea) of the Adriatic islands of Cres and Lošinj, Croatia. Entomologist’s Gazette 66: 81–94.
Koren T., Vukotić K., Verovnik R. 2015b. Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea & Hesperioidea) of the Croatian islands: new surveys of Vir, Murter, Čiovo and Šolta. Entomologist’s Gazette 66: 187–197.
Koren T., Črne M., Pavliha G., Trkov D. 2015c. Mountain Poštak, a new hotspot for the Lepidoptera of Croatia (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera). SHILAP Revista de Lepidopterologia 43: 145–155.
Koren T., Lauš B., Šašić M., Mihoci I., Štih A., Bralić P., Gomboc S. 2017. Contribution to the knowledge of the butterfly fauna (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) of Hrvatsko Zagorje, Croatia. Natura Croatica: Periodicum Musei Historiae Naturalis Croatici 26 (2): 167–196.
Koren, T., Whithrington, D., Štih, A., Gros, P. 2018. The butterflies of the Istria county (Istria, Croatia): A review of their distribution, status and conservation requirements (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera). Gortania. Botanica, Zoologia 40: 95–114.
Koren, T., Burić, I., Glavan, G., Verovnik, R.2019. Contribution to the knowledge of the butterfly fauna (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) of Mt Kozjak, Split, Croatia. Natura Croatica: Periodicum Musei Historiae Naturalis Croatici 28 (1): 21–34.
Koren T., Laus B. 2013. Dinara Massif - a new hotspot for the butterfly (Papilionoidea) diversity of the Dinaric Arc. Nota Lepidopterologica 36(2): 109–126.
Koren T., Letić G. 2014. Butterfly fauna (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) of Donji Emovci, Požega, Croatia. Natura Sloveniae 16 (2): 5–16.
Krka National Park Authority. 2020. Krka National Park Climate. Accessed 13/07/20 from http://www.np-krka.hr/stranice/climate/89/en.html
Kučinić M., Mihoci I., Delić A., Vajdić M., Marguš D. 2017. Faunističke značajke danjih leptira (Lepidoptera, Rhoplacera) Nacionalnog parka "Krka" // Zbornik radova: Znanstveno-stručni skup -Vizija i izazovi upravljanja zaštićenim područjima prirode u Republici Hrvatskoj - Aktivna zaštita i održivo upravljanje u Nacionalnom parku "Krka" / Marguš, Drago (ur.). Šibenik: Javna ustanova "Nacionalni park Krka", 2017. str. 269–292.
Leraut P. 2016. Butterflies of Europe and neighbouring regions. NAP Editions: Verrières-le-Buisson, France. Bulletin of Insectology 71 (2): pp. 1116.
Lorković Z. 1976. Taxonomische, ökologische und chorologische Beziehungen zwischen Hipparchia fagi scop., H. syriaca stgr. und H. alcyone D. & S. (Lepidopt. Satyridae). Acta Entomologica Jugoslavica 12: 11–33.
Lorković Z. 2009. The Rhopalocera fauna of Croatia with special respect to the fauna of Plitvice Lakes. Entomologia Croatica 13(1): 15–78.
Mihoci I., Hršak V., Kučinić M., Stanković V.M., Delić A., Tvrtković N. 2011. Butterfly diversity and biogeography on the Croatian karst mountain Biokovo: Vertical distribution and preference for altitude and aspect? European Journal of Entomology 108: 623–633.
Myers N., Mittermeier R.A., Mittermeier C.G., da Fonseca G.A.B., Kent J. 2000. Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities. Nature 403: 853–858.
Numa C., Van Swaay C., Wynhoff I., Wiemers M., Barrios V., Allen D., Sayer C., Munguira M.L., Balletto E., Benyamini D., Beshkov S., Bonelli S., Caruana R., Dapporto L., Franeta F., Garcia-Pereira P., Karaçetin E., Katbeh-Bader A., Maes D., Micevski N., Miller R., Monteiro E., Moulai R., Nieto A., Pamperis L., Pe’er G., Power A., Šašic´ M., Thompson K., Tzirkalli E., Verovnik R., Warrenand M., Welch H. 2016. The status and distribution of Mediterranean butterflies. IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation: Malaga, Spain.
Ozimec R., Kontić J., Maletić E., Matotan Z., Strikić F. 2015. Traditional varieties and breeds of Dalmatia. United Nations Development Programme.
Peel M.C., Finlayson B.L., Mcmahon T.A. 2007. Updated world map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences Discussions 4: 439–473.
Pollard E., Yates T.J. 1993. Monitoring butterflies for ecology and conservation: the British butterfly monitoring scheme. Springer: London.
Ružić V., Šutić B. 2014. Ecological risks of expansive tourist developement in protected areas – Case Study: Plitvice Lakes National Park. Collegium Antropologicum 38: 241–248.
Šašić M., Mihoci I. 2011. Annotated checklist of Croatian butterflies with vernacular names. Natura Croatica 20(2): 425–436.
Šašić M., Mihoci I., Kučinić M. 2015. Crvena knjiga danjih leptira Hrvatske. Ministarstvo zaštite okoliša i prirode, Državni zavod za zaštitu prirode, Hrvatski prirodoslovni muzeju: Zagreb.
Šegota V., Hršak V., Kovačić S. 2019. Rare and threatened Damasonium polyspermum Coss. (Alismataceae) discovered in Krka National park. Glasnik Hrvatskog botaničkog društva 7(1): 27-32.
Silvertown J. 2009. A new dawn for citizen science. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 24: 467–471.
Thomas J.A. 2005. Monitoring change in the abundance and distribution of insects using butterflies and other indicator groups. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 360: 339–357.
Tolman T., Lewington R. 2008. Collins Butterfly Guide: The most complete guide to the Butterflies of Britain and Europe. HarperCollins: London.
Tvrtković N., Šašić M., Mihoci I., Vuković M., Bjelić M. 2012. Review of the butterfly fauna (Hesperioidea & Papilionoidea) of the Dinara mountain range. Natura Croatica: Periodicum Musei Historiae Naturalis Croatici 21(2): 471–481.
Tvrtković N., Verovnik R., Lovrenčić L., Vuković M., Šašić M. 2015. New contributions to the butterfly fauna of Mt Velebit and the neighbouring area of Lika (Croatia). Natura Croatica: Periodicum Musei Historiae Naturalis Croatici 24(2): 281–292.
Van Swaay C., Van Strien A., Julliard R., Schweiger O., Brereton T., Heliölä J., Kuussaari M., Roy D., Stefanescu C., Warren M., Settele J. 2008. Developing a methodology for a European Butterfly Climate Change Indicator. Report VS2008.040, De Vlinderstichting, Wageningen.
Van Swaay C., Cuttelod A., Collins S., Maes D., Munguira M.L., Šašić M., Settele J., Verovnik R., Verstrael T., Warren M., Wiemers M., Wynhoff I. 2010. European Red List of Butterflies. Publications Office of the European Union: Luxembourg.
Van Swaay C., Warren M. 2003. Prime butterfly areas in Europe - Priority sites for conservation. National Reference Centre for Agriculture, Nature and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries: The Netherlands.
Verovnik R., Koren T., Glavan G. 2015. Contribution to the knowledge of the butterfly and skipper fauna of northern Dalmatia mainland. Natura Croatica 24(2): 265–280.
Vuković N., Šegota V., Brana S. 2017. Data deficient Sternbergia colchiciflora Waldst. & Kit. (Amaryllidaceae) in Croatian flora - Removing the veil of mist. Natura Croatica 26(2): 261–269.
Vurnek M., Brozinčević A., Čulinović K., Novosel A. 2018. Challenges in the Management of Plitvice Lakes National Park, Republic of Croatia. In: M.N. Suratman (Ed) National Parks: Management and Conservation. Intech Open: London. pp. 55–72.
Williams P., Humphries C., Araújo M., Lampinen R., Hagemeijer W., Gasc J., Mitchell-Jones T. 2000. Endemism and important areas for representing European biodiversity: a preliminary exploration of atlas data for plants and terrestrial vertebrates. Belgian Journal of Entomology 2: 21–46.
JWB applies the 